Psychologist Charles Spearman coined the term general intelligence, in which he found that when using factor analysis to measure mental aptitude test, the scores that were reported were similar (Cherry, 2013). Since people who had scored well on one test scored well on others, in which the same pattern followed for those who did poorly, Spearman was able to conclude that "intelligence is general cognitive ability that could be measured and numerically expressed" (Cherry, 2013).
Louis L. Thurstone developed his idea of what he thought constituted intelligence, in which his approach in defining intelligence stemmed from seven primary mental abilities which were:
Verbal Comprehension
Reasoning
Perceptual Speed
Numerical Ability
Word Fluency
Associative Memory
Spatial Visualization (Cherry, 2013)
To test this Thurstone took a sample of people and gave them a mental test, where he was able to see that each person stood at a different level for each of the seven primary mental abilities (Plucker, 2013). These findings supported his idea that intelligence was not comprised of one key element.
Howard Gardner, a more current psychologist also contributed to the study of intelligence which he introduced his theory that there were in fact multiple intelligences. Gardner thought that test scores did not give "a full and accurate depiction of people's abilities" (Cherry, 2013). Therefore came up with eight intelligences:
Visual-spatial
Verbal-linguistic
Bodily-kinesthetic
Logical-mathematical
Interpersonal
Musical
Intra-personal
Naturalistic Intelligence (Cherry, 2013)
These eight intelligences provided a more holistic approach in viewing the scope of intelligence. Here instead of intelligence being thought of as a single and definite concept, Gardner acknowledges that people have strengths and weaknesses.
Robert Sternberg is another current psychologist who is known for his triarchic theory of intelligence. Sternberg agreed with Gardner that there was no "single, general ability," but he also thought that the way in which Gardner chose to break down the components of intelligence were more along the lines of "individual talents" (Cherry, 2013). Sternberg believed that intelligence was better referred to as "successful intelligence" (Cherry, 2013). Sternberg's successful intelligence known as the triarchic theory of intelligence consist of the following:
which were:
- Verbal Comprehension
- Reasoning
- Perceptual Speed
- Numerical Ability
- Word Fluency
- Associative Memory
- Spatial Visualization (Cherry, 2013)
To test this Thurstone took a sample of people and gave them a mental test, where he was able to see that each person stood at a different level for each of the seven primary mental abilities (Plucker, 2013). These findings supported his idea that intelligence was not comprised of one key element.Howard Gardner, a more current psychologist also contributed to the study of intelligence which he introduced his theory that there were in fact multiple intelligences. Gardner thought that test scores did not give "a full and accurate depiction of people's abilities" (Cherry, 2013). Therefore came up with eight intelligences:
- Visual-spatial
- Verbal-linguistic
- Bodily-kinesthetic
- Logical-mathematical
- Interpersonal
- Musical
- Intra-personal
- Naturalistic Intelligence (Cherry, 2013)
These eight intelligences provided a more holistic approach in viewing the scope of intelligence. Here instead of intelligence being thought of as a single and definite concept, Gardner acknowledges that people have strengths and weaknesses.